Engraving or carving machine.



No. 842,745. PATBNTED JAN. 29, 1907.

H. M. ALBEE. ENGRAVING 0R OARVING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED $BPT.19,1904.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

iE- l WITNESSES: INVENTOR:

1 I nnastmfl fi W No. 842,745. PATENTED JAN. 29, 1907.

H. M. ALBEE.

ENGRAVING 0R CARVING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED $EPT.19,1904.

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ATTORNEY UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HONESTUS M; ALBEE,

OF NUTLEY, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO J OF NEW YORK.

ENGRAVING on CARVING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented J an. 29, 1907.

Application filed September 19,1904. Serial No. 225.601.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Honns'rus M. ALBEE, a citizen 'of the United States,residing at Nutley, in the county of Essex and, State of New Jersey,have invented certain,new and useful Improvements in Engraving orCarving Machines; and I dohereby declare the fo lowing to be a full,clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enableothers skilled in the art to which it appertains to. make and use thesame, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to numeralsof reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

The present invention has reference generally to improvements inengraving or carving machines used for the purpose or reproducingdesigns in steel or other metals in the art pertaining to die-sinkingand other kindred arts or for the purpose of reproducing designs in woodand other materials.

The main object of the present invention is to provide a novel meansfor, automatically and controlling a tracer in its pasthe ornamentedsurface of which is to be reproduced by the carving or cutting tool inthe steel or other material placed upon the work-table or bed of themachine, and, furthermore, to provide a simple and cheaplyconstructedand eflectively-operating mechanism for accom lishing theabove-menti'oned result whic is positive in its action and yet controlsthe point of the tracer in such a careful manner that atterns ortemplets of soft or other perisha 1e material, and

even electrotypes and patterns of lead-foil,

may be employed without any risk of injuring their ornate surfaces.

Other objects of this invention not at this time mentioned will be fullyset forth in the accompanying specification.

The present' in a tracer-assisting means for engraving orcarvingmachines, and more especially in a pneumatic orcompressed-air-controlle d device cooperating with devices carrying atracer for automatically assisting and controlling the tracer-point inits movements over an ornamented surface.

The invention consists, furthermore, in an electric controlling meansfor admitting compressed air beneath a plunger or piston in a ventionconsists, primarily,-

cylinder of such compressed-air-controlled device and means for closingthe air intake or port to the piston-cylinder, the air-exhaust portbeing continually open. v

My invention consists, furthermore, in the novel arrangements andcombinations of mechanism and the various parts of the same, whichcomprise and constitute an essential feature of the said engraving orcarving machine, as well as in the details of the construction thereof,all of which will be fully described in the following specification andthen finally embodied in the clauses of the claim, which form anessential part of said specification and are appended thereto.

The invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings, inwhich Figure 1 is a front elevation of an engraving or carving machineembodying the novel features of my present invention. Fig. 2 is a detailview drawn upon an enlarged scale,

' illustrating in side elevation my novel attachment for engraving orcarving machines. Fig; 3 is a detail plan view of the parts shown insaid Fig. 2, and Fig. 4 is a central vertical section taken on line 4 4in said Fig. 3 looking in the direction of the arrow as. Fig. 5 is adetail cross-section taken on line 5 5 in said Fig. 3.

Similar characters of reference "are employed in all of theabove-described views to indicate corresponding parts.

Referrin now to the said drawings, the reference c aracter 1 indicatesone type of engraving or carving machine, the general construction ofwhich is shown and described in Letters Patent issued to me bearing datethe 28th day of 'July, 1903, and numbered- My present invention is shownas ada ted to the ty e of engraving or carving machine described andshown in said Letters Patent above mentioned but of course it will beunderstood that I do not limit myself to its adoption to said type ofengraving or carving machine, for the present invention may be adaptedto and used with any other wellknown types of engraving or carvingmachines or with other machines carrying a tracer or similar appliance.

The reference character 2 indicates a vertically-adjustable slidingframe ridin in bearings or otherwise movably arrange be tween channelsor guides 3, connected with the side frames of the said machine. Uponthe said sliding frame 2 are arranged in a manner to be presentlydescribed two toolcarriers 4 and 5; Suitably connected with the saidtool-carrier 4 is a tracer or other similarly-constructed tracing device6. Similarly connected with the tool-carrier 5 is a carving oreutting'tool 7, which is preferably secured in its proper position bymeans of any suitable form of chuck 8, connected at the one end with avertical shaft riding in bearings in the said tool-carrier 5 and havingupon the other end of said shaft a pulley 9, by means of which theshaft, chuck 8, and the carving or cutting tool 7, secured in saidchuck, are caused to revolve to accomplish the desired object of carvingor cutting the die or other work laced upon the work-table or bed ofthe'machine. The sliding frame 2 is provided with an arm or extension10, formed with a suitably-disposed channel or groove 11 or othersuitable means, in which rides and is adjustably arranged a fulcrumalbolt .01 pin 12 of a lever arm or bar 13, the said lever arm or barcarrying the said toolcarriers 4 and 5 and. being capable of verticaladjustment or movement in the channels or guides 3 of the machine. Thevertical movement of this lever arm or bar 13 permits the tracer 6 toride over the depressions or ornamentations of the pattern or templet,the force of gravity causing the said tracer 6 to sink into thedepressions, and the novel means to be presently described assisting thetracer 6 to ride up upon the raised portions of the pattern or templetand in a manner plainly to be understood causing a duplica-' tion ofmovement by tool 7. of the parts of this novel means or mechanismemployed to assist the ascending movements of the tracer 6 will now bedescribed,

the carving or cutting the manner of the oiplerations of the partsthereof being more after.

Secured to the side frame of the g or carving machine bymeans of bolts14 or in any other suitable manner are a pair of su portin brackets 15,which support a oy inder-b ock 16'or similar device, being alsopreferably provided with a bracket or support 17, fastened by means ofbolts 18 to the supporting-brackets for the purpose of gaining greaterstrength and rigidity in the support of the said cylinder-block 16.Fixed within the said cylinder-block 16 is a piston or plunger 19,provided with a cuplly set forth hereinshaped or tubular portion 20,within which is supported and suitably held the one end of a connectingor lifting arm or red 21, the said arm or rod 21 being seeuredat itsopposite end by means of a screw-threaded portiiin 22 or other suitablemeans to an extension 23 of the said lever arm or bar 13. Arranged'lower face of the movable The construction and arrangements engravingthe latter against the, outer face of the cylinder-block 16,- and at aconvenient distance from the other end the said shell or outer valvemember 24 is provided with a screw-threaded portion, upon which may besecured a locknut 27 .for the purpose of locking the said shell or putervalve member 24 in its fixed and operative relation ithin the lowerportion of the cylinder block 16. The said outer valve member'24 isconstructed-with a cut-away or open portion 29, corresponding with thehere or der-block 16, situated directly beneath the piston or plunger 19within said chamber or bore of the cylinder-block 16, as clearlyillustrated in Fig. 4 of the drawings. At each end or other suitableparts of this cut-away portion 29 are two ports or openings 30 and 31 inthe said shell or outer valve member 24, the said ports or openingsforming ducts or passageways, which extend from the interior of theshell or outer valve member 24 and open directly into the here orchamber 32 of the cylinder-block 16, substantially as illustrated.Slidably arranged Within the said shell or outer valve member 24 is aninner valve member 33, which is provided at its one end .with anelectromagnet-armature 34. The

said inner valve member 33 is formed with a chamber or duct 35, whichextends from the opposite end of the said inner valve member to a pointbeyond the port or duct 30, the said inner valve member being alsoprovided with a port or duct or opening 36. Upon the upper outer surfaceof the said inner valve member 33 is a grooved or channeled portion 37,which extends beneath the port or opening 31 in the outer shell or valvemember 24 and extends also in an outward direction beneath anotheropening 38 in the said outer shell or valve member 24 for the urposeshereinafter more fully set forth.

ear the end of the inner valve member 33 whereat the said armature 34 issituated is a cut-away portion 39, and'extending into the same is atongue or angle-piece 40, which is secured to the squared head orflanged portion 25 ofthe said outer shell or valve member 24 by means ofsuitable'bolts 41 or in any other cdnvenient manner. The purpose of thistongue or angle-piece is to limit the reciprocatory sliding movements ofthe inner valve member 33 within the outer shell or valve member 24 whenactuated in the manner to be presently described. At theoppopiston-chamber of the cylin site end of the said inner valve member33 is another cut-away portion or opening 42, and extending into thesame is the free end 43 of a suitable spring 44, the opposite end ofwhich is rigidly secured to a stud 46 by means of a washer 47 and a nut48, the said stud 46 be ing screwed into a receivin -socket 49 upon thecylinder-block 16. en these parts are in their normal initial positions,(indi-'" cated in Figs. 2 and 4,) then the spring 44 assumes theposition shown in said drawings; but as soon as the armature 34 isattracted in the mannerto be presently described, by an electromagnet,the lateral movement of the valve member from left to right sufficientlydistorts said spring that when said magnet releases said armature 34 thedistorted-end of the spring immediately causes the return of the saidvalve member'to its normal initial position.

Into the open end of thechamber 35 is' screwed or is otherwise connectedtherewith the one end of a nipple or connection 50,with

the opposite end of which is connected a suit-' able pipe or duct 51,leading from a cornpressed-air supply, which, however, is not shown inthe accompanying drawlngs.

Referring now more particularly to Fig.5 of the drawings, it will benoticed that at-g; tached to one side of the cylinder-block 16, bynceans of screws 52 or in any other manner, is a cup-shaped or chamberedmember 53, closed at one end and. having its opposite open end connectedby an opening 54 in the said cylinder-block 16 with the bore of pis-.ton-chamber 32. The-purpose of this device is intended to providean'air-cushion, so that the quick descent or fall of the plunger orpiston 21 will be checked, and thus do away with any danger of injury tothe par-ts by reason of the pounding of the said plunger-or piston 21upon the upper surface of'the outer shell of valve member 24. t

Secured in an operative manner to the squared or flanged portion 25 ofthe outer shell or valve member 24, by means of a bracket 55 or in anyother suitable manner, are a pair of election.- a nets 56, and upon therear end portion 57 o thebracket'55 is seciired a resistance-box 58 ofany well-knownformor construction, whichis provided with a suitableswitch 60 and electrical contacts or directly beneath the slot? &

ginning with the positive pole 62 of the said battery 61, the course ofthe electric current is intoand through the wire 63 and into the bindin-post 64 of the switch 60, thence throng one of the electrical contacts59 and through they resistance-box 58into thebinding-post 66, and thenthrough the wire 67 into the electromagnets 56-, the wire 68 issuingfrom the electromagnets 56 beinglconnecte with the binding-post 69 onthe templet or pattern holding or supporting table of the 111 achine oran other convenient portion of the machine, t ereby charging the saidtable and templet or attern thereon with the electriccurrent. heelectrical contact is made when the tracer 6 touches the charged surfaceof the templet or pattern, and the cur? 'rentthen proceeds through thetracer 6 into the -wire70, connected therewith and which leads back intothe-south pole 711 of the battery'61 or other source of electricalenergy.

It now remains to describe the operation of i the parts and deviceshereinbeforeset forth. When the templet or pattern is fixed in its lace,upon the templet-holding table, the orce of'gravity brings the tracer 6down until it touches upon the surface'of said templet or pattern. Themachine is then set in oper ation and the templet-holdingtable moves,carrying the templet or pattern forward beneath the tracer, and thecarving-tool 7 does its work. At the same time that the tracer touchesthe templet electrical contact ismade and a complete electric circuit isestab- 'lished, which sets in operation, in the manner-tobe presentlyset forth, the-pneumatic or compressed-air controlling device, whichassists the lifting -mechanism during the movements of the tracer overthe orna-.

mented surface of the templet. Immediatelythe electromagnets 56 attractthe armature 36 in the said inner valve member is brought port, oropening 30 in th'e'outer shell or am ,ve-member 34, j and immediatelythe compressediair which is taken into the chamber 35 passes-through theduct thus provided intothe'bore .or piston-chamber 32 Lof the cylinderblock '16.

34 and cause the inner-valve member 33 to slide forward until theslot,port,- or opening This causes the piston'or plunger 19 to rise,

the upward movement thereof being commue nicated, through theconnecting-rod 21 to the lever arm or bar "13and thence to the tool:carriers 4 vand 5 thereon. fIt will therefore be seen that the tracer 6will continue to rise as long as the electrical. contact is maintainedand the flow of compressed air continuesto enter the bore orpiston-chamber 32 of the cylinder-block 16. As soonas the tracer 6reaches the highest point in the. pattern or templet it is lifted off,owing to the continued upward pressure of the air upon the under surfaceof the plunger or piston 19 with n the cylinderblock 16, resulting inimmediately breaking work'or for any rapidly tool over the; templet orinterrupting the complete electrlcal circuit, and'thereby releasing thearmature from its held relation with the electromagnets. Thespring 44then acts to return the inner valve member 33 to its normal initialposition, thus shutting off the supply of compressed air. The aircontained in the linder or piston chamber 32 escapes through the slot,port, or opening 3'1 into the grooved or channeled portion 37 and thencethrough the opening 38 into the air,"all of.

which will be clearly evident from an inspection of the'several figuresof the drawings. From. an inspection of Figs. 4 and 5 of the drawingsitwill' be clearly understood that the exhaust-port formed by the parts.31 and 37 is always open, the grooved or channeled portion. 37 extendingunder the openingor port 31 in-such a manner that when the airintake,consisting of the opening 30 and the parts 35 and 36, has been openedthe air' which enters the piston-chamber 32, being under pressure,enters said chamber more than it can escape through the exhaust-port, sothat the piston will be raised notwithstanding the factjthat theeXhaust-' port is open.

The pistonor plunger 19 and the lever arm or bar 13, as well as thetoolcarriers and 5, are then no longer supported by the liftingmechanism and will descend by reason of the derstood that as-soon as thedepressions in the templet face of thesaid templet or pattern is beingconstantly withdrawn fromthe tracer 6, so that the electrical contact iscontinually being broken until the lowest 'oint in the depressed surfaceof the temp 'et or pattern is reached. Hence the tracer continues. togradually descend until the surface of the templet or pattern againbegins'to slope upward, whereupon a continuous electrical contact isagain established as the surface of the templet or pattern is forcedagainst the point of the tracer, and the hereinabove-described operationof assisting the ascending movements of the tracer is again repeated.

For the purpose of raising the tool-carriers 4 and5 and their respectivetools to give the operator pportunity to examine the other purposes anordinary handdever 72': may be employed, the same being fulcrum-led at73 and with a connecting-rod 74 at one end, said connecting-rod 74communicating the movement of th and 'lever 72 to'the lever arm or bar13 a d raising the same to the point desir'edi. s

thus be understood that I have produced in connection with anengravingor carving machine.- a novel means for assisting andcon-trolling'the movements of the traceror' pattern which is absolutelypositivein its action and which operates automatically, so as to requireno force of gravity. It will be unor pattern are reached the sur-' beingprovided attention on the part of the operator of the machine, and Whlchat the same time is so sensitive that the most fragile templet orpattern may be used Without risk of injury. -Having thus described myinvention, what I claim is 1. The combination, with an engraving orcarving machine provided with a vertically movable tracer and atool-carrying lever-arm,

of a pneumatic means for assisting the ascending movements of thetracer, consisting, essentially, of a cylinder and a piston or plungertherein, a connecting-rod between the tool-carrying'lever-arm and thesaid piston or. plunger, and a valve for automatically operating thesaidpneumatic means consisting of an outer shell or valve membercommunicating with the said cylinder, said outer shell or valve memberhaving a port or airpassage for the entrance of the air into thecylinder and an air-exhaust passage to permit an exhaust of the .airfrom the cylinder, an inner valve member slidably arranged within thesaid outer shell or valve member, said inner .valve member beingprovided with an air-receiving chamber and having an air passage or portwhich when introduced beneath the said air passage or port in theoutershell or valve member opens into the said cylinder, said innervalve member being also provided with a channel for conducting the.exhaust-air from the said cylinder, and means for operating said innervalve memper, substantially as and for the purposes set orth.

. 2. The combination, with an engraving or carving machine p'rovidedwith a verticallymovable tracer and a tool-carrying lever-arm, of apneumatic'means for assisting the ascendin-g movements of'the tracer andtool consisting, essentially, of a cylinder and a iston or plungertherein, a-connecting-rod between the tool-carrying lever-arm and thesaid piston or plunger, and a valve for auto-.

matically operating the said pneumatic means consisting of anoutershellor valve member communicating'with the said cyl inder, said outer shellor valve member having-a 'port or air-passage for'the entrance of theairinto the cylinder and an air-exhaust to permit an exhaust of the airfrom the cylinder, an inner valve member slidably arranged .within thesaid outer shell or valve member, said inner valve member being providedwithan air receiving chamber, and having an air passage or port whichwhen introduced beneath the said air passage or port in the outer shellor valve member opens Into the said cylinder, said inner valve memberbeing also'provided with a channel for conducting the exhaust-air fromthe sald cylinder, and means for operating. said inner valve member,consisting'of an armature and an electric circuit connected with themachine-frame and templet, and with the tracer, a pair ofelectromagnets, a resistance box or rheostat, a source of. electricalgeneration in said electric circuit, and a spring in engagement withsaid inner valve member for. returning the said inner valve member toits normal initial position, substantially as and for the purposes setforth.

3. The combination, with an engraving or carving machine provided with atool-carrying lever arm, and a vertically movable tracer of a pneumaticmeans for assisting the ascending movements of the tracer and tool,consisting, essentially, of a cylinder and a piston or plunger therein,a connecting-rod between the tOOl-carrying lever-arm and the said pistonor plunger, said pneumatic means having an air-chamber adjacent to thelower end of saidcylinder, a passage leading from said cylinder intosaid air-chamber, the'said air-chamber forming an air-cushion at thebottom of said cylinder, and a valve for antomatically operating thesaid pneumatic means, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

4. The combination, with an engraving or carving machine provided with atool-carrying lever-arm, and a vertically-movable tracer of a pneumaticmeans for assisting the ascending movements of the tracer and tool,

consisting, essentially, of a cylinder and piston or plunger therein, aconnecting-rod between the tool-carrying lever-arm and the said pistonor plunger, said pneumatic means having an air-chamber adjacent to thelower end of said cylinder, a passage leading from said cylinder intosaid air-chamber, the said air-chamber forming an air-cushion at thebottom of said cylinder, and a valve for antomati'cally operating thesaid neumatic means consisting of an outer she or valve membercommunicating with the said cylinder, said outer shell or valve memberhaving a port or air-passage for the entrance of the air into thecylinder and an exhaust-passage to ermit an exhaust of the airvfrom thecylin er, an inner valvemember slidably ar-,

ranged within the said outer shell or valve member,said inner valvemember being provided with an air-receiving chamber and having an airpassa e or port which when introduced beneath t e sald air passage orport in the outer shell or valve member opens into the said cylinder,said inner valve member being also provided with a channel forconducting the exhaust-air from the said cylinder, and means foroperating said inner valve member, substantlally as and for the purposesset forth.

5. The combination, with an engraving or carving machine provided with'atool-carrying lever arm, and a vertically movable tracer of a pneumaticmeans for assisting the ascending movements of the tracer and tool,consisting,essentially, of a cylinder and piston or plunger therein, aconnecting-rod between the tool-carrying lever-arm and the said pistonor plunger, said pneumatic means having an air-chamber adjacent to thelower end of said cylinder, a passage leading from said cylinder intosaid air-chamber, the said air-chamber forming an air-cushion at thebottom of said'cylinder, and a valve for auto- 'outer shell or valvemember having a port or air-passage for the entrance of the air intothecylinder and an exhaust-passage to ermit an exhaust of the air from thecylin er, an inner valve member slidabl arranged within the said outershell or va ve member, said inner valve member being provided with anair'receiving chamber and having an air pas-' sage or port which whenintroduced beneath the said air passage or port in the outer shell orvalve member opens into the said cylinder, said inner valve member beingalso rovided with a channel for conducting the ex aust-air from the saidcylinder, and means for operating said inner valve member, consisting ofan armature and an electric circuit connected with the, machine-frameand templet and with the tracer, a air of electromagnets, a resistancebox or rheostat, a source of electrical generation in said electriccircuit, and a spring in engagement with said inner valve member forreturning the said inner valve member to its normal initial position,substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

In testimony that I claim the invention set forth above I have hereuntoset my hand this 13th day of September, 1904.

i HONESTUS M. ALBEE. U Witnesses:

FREDK.- C. FRAENTZEL,

GEo. D. RICHARDS.

